IF your dogs are like mine, you probably get a lot of fussing when it comes to nail-clipping time.
Piper actually hides when he sees the orange clippers in my hand. But your dog's discomfort should not be a deterrent for clipping.
Knowing how and when to trim your dog's nails is an important part of your dog's hygiene. Like ours, your dog's nails grow constantly; how often they need to be trimmed depends on your dog's lifestyle. If your dog walks on hard surfaces like concrete, he may not need much help keeping his nails short - the abrasiveness of the pavement takes care of it. But if your dog walks along softer ground such as grass, forested trails or sand, then clipping is a necessity. Not doing it - out of ignorance, laziness or fear - could lead to pain for your dog's toes and possibly permanent damage.
Having a toenail ripped off is not any less painful for a dog than it would be for us.
As usual, it is best to get them used to nail trims when they are young. Start by getting your puppy familiarized to you gently holding their paws, then begin to apply pressure on their nails by gently squeezing them between your finger and thumb. Once your pup accepts this, then begin to trim the tips of the nails a little bit each day until you see him calmly accept the trimming session. At the end of the session reward with a favorite treat and maybe a quick play or walk.
There are a variety of nail clippers on the market. I prefer the scissor type over the guillotine type as my dogs' large toenails splinter with the latter. Some dogs do well with a file or a dremel tool. Consider keeping a styptic pen handy. A styptic pen will halt the blood flow from a cut, but if you are familiar with the anatomy of a dog's toenail you can prevent cutting into the quick.
A dog's toenail is much like our own, albeit the shape is different. It consists of a hard outer surface that protects the quick, the fleshy part containing blood vessels and nerves. The quick can easily be seen - and thus avoided - in dogs with light-coloured toenails as it is pinkish in colour. Dogs with black nails are at a disadvantage as the quick cannot be seen through the nail, but if you look underneath the toe you can easily see where the quick ends. If you are trimming your dog's nails for the first time clip small snips off the end and continue to check after each snip. You are on the lookout for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area. This dark spot is the start of the quick.
Do not cut too far into this dark spot all at once. Continue taking just tiny snips. When you start to see a pale third inner circle it's time to stop. Some dogs also have dew claws, a fifth claw partway up their foot. Since it doesn't come in contact with the ground it can get torn off when allowed to grow and curl around itself.
If the idea of trimming your dog's nails brings on an anxiety attack, spend the money and take your dog to your vet or groomer. You would be surprised at how quickly your dog lets go of the prima donna act when you are not around.
Consider having your groomer or vet give you a lesson on how to trim your dog's nails to help ease your anxiety.
